Blast furnace charger

ABSTRACT

The charger contains lock hoppers, with a taper hopper and a bell mounted in succession under the outlets of the lock hoppers along the furnace axis, the bell being rigidly fixed to the taper hopper to form a gap for mixture passage. The inner space of the tapered portion of the taper hopper is divided by vertical partitions into zones whose number is equal to the number of lock hoppers. Each of the zones accomodates an arrangement for dividing the mixture into several flows distributed throughout the furnace section.

United States Patent 11 1 Leonidov et a1.

[451 Apr. 15, 1975 BLAST FURNACE CHARGER [76] Inventors: NikolaiKonstaninovich Leonidov, ulitsa 1812, Goda, 7, kv. 45; Lev YakovlevichLevin, ulitsa Kremenchugskaya, 13, kv. 24; Petr Platonovich lpatov,Prospekt Mira, 103, kv. 90, all of Moscow; Nikolai Ivanovich Krasavtsev,bulvar Pushkina, 27, kv. l5, Donetsk; Evgeny Dmitrievich Shtepa, ulitsaArtema, 76, kv. 35, Donetsk; Jury Markovich Gerasimenko, ulitsaPostysheva, 25, kv. 1 1, Donetsk; Valery Stepanovich Degtyarev, ulitsaArtema, 119, kv. 19, Donetsk; Alexandr Fedorovich Ryhtsov, ulitsaPostysheva, 122, kv. 47, Donetsk; Anatoly Dmitrievich Tankin, ulitsaStadionnaya, 5, kv. 76, Donetsk; Alexandr Efimovich Sukhorukov, ulitsaProstornaya, 34, korpus l, kv. 74, Moscow; Mikhail Mikhailovich Kovylin,Prospekt Mira, 99, kv. 246, Moscow; Jury Lvovich Markovsky, ProspektMira, 101a, kv. 32, Moscow; Evgeny Makarovich Ryazanov, Prospekt Mira,103, kv. 232, Moscow; Vyacheslav Alexeevich Altukhov, Novo-Ostankinskayaulitsa, 18, kv. 54, Moscow; Valentin Alexeevich Kononov, ulitsa Bazhova,l, kv. 90, Moscow; Evgeny Ivanovich Yasakov, ulitsa Fotichevoi, 12, kv.138, Moscow, all of U.S.S.R.

[22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 353,671

[52] U.S. Cl. 266/27; 214/35 R [51] Int. Cl C21b 7/00 [58] Field ofSearch 214/35 R, 35 A, 36, 37; 266/27 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,302,805 2/1967 Tsutsumi 266/27 X 3,417,982 12/1968Tsutsumi et a1. 1 266/27 3,476,374 11/1969 Colijn 266/27 3,482,71412/1969 Oguri et a1 266/27 X 3,542,219 11/1970 Yoshioka 266/27 X3,651,964 3/1972 Neibuer 266/27 X 3,706,387 12/1972 Tokarz 266/27 XPrimary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Holman & Stern[57] ABSTRACT The charger contains lock hoppers, with a taper hopper anda bell mounted in succession under the outlets of the lock hoppers alongthe furnace axis, the bell being rigidly fixed to the taper hopper toform a gap for mixture passage.

The inner space of the tapered portion of the taper hopper is divided byvertical partitions into zones whose number is equal to the number oflock hoppers.

Each of the zones accomodates an arrangement for dividing the mixtureinto several flows distributed throughout the furnace section.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEEAPR 1 SiSI'S SHEET 1 BF 2 BLASTFURNACE CHARGER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates generally to metallurgy and more particularly, it relates tocharging devices for blast furnaces.

A charging device for blast furnaces is known in the art, comprisinglock hoppers that are locked by disktype valves both from above andbelow. a taper hopper and a revolving disk being arranged in successionbeneath the outlets of the lock hoppers along the furnace axis, therevolving disk forming together with the taper hopper a gap for mixturepassage.

However, as the disk in the known construction is arranged as cantileverabout the supports, the charging device fails to ensure the furnacedependability throughout its operating period.

Moreover, replacing the disk requires disassemblage of the wholecharger.

There is also known a charging device comprising hoppers, with two taperhoppers provided in succession beneath the outlets of the former hoppersalong the furnace axis, either of the taper hoppers accommodating a bellalong the furnace axis. Each bell is coupled with SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a chargerfor blast furnaces. ensuring uniform distribution of the mixturethroughout the furnace section.

Another object of the invention is to extend the service life for thecharger.

These and other objects of the invention have been achieved by providinga charger for blast furnaces. comprising at least four lock hoppers.with a taper hop per and a bell arranged in succession beneath theoutlets of the lock hoppers along the furnace axis, the bell formingtogether with the taper hopper a gap for mixture passage. wherein,according to the invention, the inner space of the tapered portion ofthe taper hopper is divided by vertical partitions into zones whosenumber corresponds to the number of lock hoppers, each of the zones ofthe taper hopper having an arrangement for dividing the mixture intoseveral flows throughout the furnace section, the arrangement beingprovided beneath the outlet of a respective lock hopper and the bellbeing rigidly connected to the taper hopper.

Such embodiment of the charger would ensure a uniform distribution ofmixture throughout the furnace section.

In the proposed charger, the arrangement for dividing the mixture flowcan be fashioned as a plate secured in the upper portion of the wall ofthe taper hopper with the possibility of rotation, in the place of itssecuring, about the horizontal axis transverse to the direction of themixture flow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A detailed description of an exemplaryembodiment of the proposed invention is presented for betterunderstanding thereof, references being had to the appended drawings,wherein:

FIG. I shows a longitudinal section of the charger of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1; and

. FIG. 3 is a section view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The charging devicecomprises a feed hopper 1 (FIG. 1) which is to be charged with mixtureand a revolving hopper 2 mounted beneath the feed hopper and connectedto a drive 3.

Four lock hoppers 4 are arranged under the revolving hopper 2 andsymmetrical to the furnace axis which are to be locked from above bymeans of disk-type gas valves 5 and from below by means of dischargevalves 6 and disk-type gas valves 7.

A taper hopper 8 and a bell 9 are mounted beneath the outlets of thelock hoppers 4 along the furnace axis, the bell being rigidly suspendedon an axle 10 to the taper hopper 8. A gap 11 for mixture charge isprovided between the bell 9 and the lower portion of the taper hopper 8.

In the taper hopper 8, there are vertical partitions I2 dividing theinner space of the hopper 8 into four zones 13 (FIG. 2), each of thezones accommodating a plate I4 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

The plate 14 is hinged in the upper portion of the wall of the taperhopper 8 and accommodated directly beneath the outlet of a respectivelock hopper 4. Each of the plates 14 is connected to a drive 15 (FIG. 2)for rotation, at a place where it is secured, about the horizontal axistransverse to the flow of the mixing escaping from the respective lockhopper 4.

The plate 14 can be made either flat or convex upwards.

The partitions 12 are fashioned as vertical arc-curved plates whosevertical edges are secured rigidly to the inner wall of the taper hopper8. The zones 13 formed by the partitions l2 and the respective wall ofthe taper hopper 8 (FIG. 2) are shaped as segments in theircross-section.

A ring 16 is provided between the lock hoppers 4 (FIG. 1) and the taperhopper 8.

When repairing one of the valves 5, 6, or 7 of the lock hoppers 4, apartition (not shown in the figure) is mounted to replace the ring 16and to isolate a respective lock hopper 4 from the melting chamber ofthe blast furnace.

The blast furnace charger operates in the manner as follows:

With the valves 5 being opened and the valves 6 and 7 being closed,mixture is charged from the feed hopper I via the revolving hopper 2into the lock hoppers 4. It should be noted that a mixture of one andthe same type is charged into the opposite lock hoppers. After chargingis completed, the valves 5 are closed and the gas pressure in the lockhoppers 4 is equalizing that which exists in the furnace. Once the gaspressure is.

equalized, the valves 7 open first in two opposite lock hoppers 4, to befollowed by the opening of the valves Both mixture flows escaping fromthe opposite pairs of the lock hoppers 4 and coming against thepartitions l2 and the plates 14, are combined into a single one with anequal supply of materials at any arbitrary point of the clear opening ofthe cylindrical portion of the taper hopper 8.

From the taper; hopper 8, the mixture materials are fed, via the gap 11,onto the fixed bell 9, distributing therefrom, as flow. uniformlythroughout the blast furnace section.

The discharge of the mixture from one pair of the opposite lock hoppers4 is followed by the similar discharge from the other pair'of hoppers.

Materials making up the mixture to'be charged into the furnace arecollected in turns, i.e., those lock hoppers 4 that previously picked upcoke now will collect sinter. whereas those that collected sinter nowwill pick up coke. The mixture can be collected into all the four lockhoppers 4 in succession after their emptying, or it can be picked upinto two empited lock hoppers 4, while the other two discharge theirmixture into the furnace.

Different components of one mixture feed can be charged into the furnacefrom lock hoppers 4 eitherat equal intervals (i.e., to one andthe samemixture level) or following each other. or in the combination ofaseparate (at equal intervals) or joint (following each other) chargingsystems, which permits to regulate their radial distribution in thefurnace the way it is done by means of a standard-type charger.

Elimination of a channel or one-sided run of the furliv fill

As stated previously. the concentrated charging "is achieved by chargingthe mixture through one respective lock hopper 4 or through tworespective adjoining lock hoppers." The eight directions of chargingvyould include four directions dueto operation of individual lockhoppers (4", 4. 4"" arid 4"") The uniform circumferential distributionof the mixture materials in each feed will ensure the uniformity of thephysical and chemical properties of the mixture column in the furnace inall of its vertical sections along the furnace periphery. In its turn,this will help ensure a better distribution of the gas flow in thefurnace. with the resultant decrease in the specific coke rate.

Thus, the provision of the proposed charging device will help attainhigher technical and economic indices of furnace operation.

Moreover, the charger according to the invention is considerably less inheight than theknown analogous devices.

The absence of movable bells'in the proposed charger with thesimultaneous proper protection of its parts against attrition bymixturethrough plates lining. hardalloy surfacing, etc. permits toensure its dependability and service life throughout the entireoperating period of the furnace. Replacement of the valves 5, 6, and 7of the charger does not require the discontinuance of the furnaceoperation for a lengthy period due to the provision of the proposedcharger, and. in its turn, this makes unnecessary the stoppage of thefurnace for capital repair. Pig iron loss is thus reduced.

The operating dependability and service life of the charger do notdepend on the size of the bell 9. For transportation conveniency. thelatter can be made split to consist of two 'or more parts; this makesthe proposed charger fit for any furnace whatever size the di ameter ofits top might be.

We claim: 7

l. A charger for charging a blast furnace with a mixture comprising: atleast four lock hoppers; a taper hopper being disposed beneath theoutlets of said lock hoppers along the furnace axis; vertical partitionsdividing the inner space of the tapered portion of said taper hopperinto zones the number of which corresponds to the number of said lockhoppers, each of said zones being disposed under a respective lockhopper; means for dividing a charging mixture from said lock hoppersinto several flows distributed throughout the furnace section, saiddividing means provided beneath the outlets of said lock hoppers in eachof the zones of the taper hopper; and a bell mounted under said taperhopper along the furnace axis and rigidly fixed to it to form with saidtaper hopper a gap for mixture passage.

2. The blast furnace charger as claimed in claim 1, wherein said meansfor dividing the mixture flow comprises a plate secured in the upperpart of the wall of said taper hopper'with the possibility of rotationin the place of its securing about the horizontal axis transverse to thedirection of the mixture flow.

1. A charger for charging a blast furnace with a mixture comprising: atleast four lock hoppers; a taper hopper being disposed beneath theoutlets of said lock hoppers along the furnace axis; vertical partitionsdividing the inner space of the tapered portion of said taper hopperinto zones the number of which corresponds to the number of said lockhoppers, each of said zones being disposed under a respective lockhopper; means for dividing a charging mixture from said lock hoppersinto several flows distributed throughout the furnace section, saiddividing means provided beneath the outlets of said lock hoppers in eachof the zones of the taper hopper; and a bell mounted under said taperhopper along the furnace axis and rigidly fixed to it to form with saidtaper hopper a gap for mixture passage.
 2. The blast furnace charger asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said means for dividing the mixture flowcomprises a plate secured in the upper part of the wall of said taperhopper with the possibility of rotation in the place of its securingabout the horizontal axis transverse to the direction of the mixtureflow.